Protective device for locks



PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR LOCKS Filed Oct. 20, 1965 19 INVENTOR.

Harry Greenwald United States Patent 3,334,501 PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR LOCKS Harry Greenwald, Whitestone, N.Y., assignor of one-third each to Louis Wollf and Harry Silberglait, both of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,767 6 Claims. (Cl. 70-423) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is directed to a protective device for locks comprising a guard defined as a U-sh-aped bracket which is permanently secured to the lock so that the web portion of the guard is fixed and spaced directly in front of the keyway of the lock, and a key to operate on the lock which is particularly formed to complement the structure of the guard so that the key can be readily fitted to the keyway the lock and turned to effect the locking :and unlocking of the lock without effecting removal or disturbance of the protective guard.

This invention relates to a device for protecting a lock against tampering by unauthorized personnel; and more specifically to a novel protective guard means and complementary key structure for a lock utilized in conjunction with a coin box of a coin operated machine.

The coin boxes of coin operated machines are generally secured by a tumbler type lock in which the face of the lock is readily accessible from the exterior portion of the machine. Such coin boxes are received in an opening in the front of the machine which is disposed below the coin meter to receive and retain the coins passing therethrough. Generally, such coin boxes are provided with a face plate in which there is housed a tumbler lock by which the coin box is latched or locked to the frame of the machine. Because coin vending or operated machines are frequently unattended, their coin boxes constitute desirable targets for would-be'thieves and vandals. Consequently, it has been the experience of operators of such coin operated machines that many attempts are made by unscrupulous persons to pick or drill through the lock in order to attain access to the coins deposited therein. In picking the tumbler lock of the type utilized in coin operated machines, the thieves or vandals require a particular type of pick which must be axially aligned with the keyway of the lock. Other means employed in gaining unauthorized access to the coin box has been by drilling through the face of the lock. However, this manner of access also requires that hte drill bit be axially aligned with the face of the lock.

Consequently, it is an object of this invention to provide a protective device which will deter the drilling or picking of the lock by unscrupulous persons.

It is another object of this invention to provide a protective device in the nature of a guard which is permanently attached in fixed position with respect to the lock in such a maner so as to prohibit the axial alignment of a drill bit or pick against the face of the lock, and thereby detering tampering of the lock by means of such tools.

It is also another object of this invention to provide a guard fixed to the front of the lock which is utilized in conjunction with a key means of special construction so that the key may be fitted to the lock and turned therein with the guard in position in front of the lock.

It is another object of this invention to provide a lock with a permanently fixed protective guard and complementary key therefore to facilitate the opening and closing of the lock.

Another object of this invention is to provide a protective device which is relatively simple in construction, can

3,334,501 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 be readily fabricated, and which is positive in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a protective device which can be readily fitted to existing locks.

In accordance with this invention, the foregoing objects and other features and advantages are readily attained by a protective device which can be readily applied to a coin box of a coin operated machine. Essentially the protective device comprises a guard means which is permanently secured to the coin box so as to protect the lock thereof, and a key means constructed to complement the guard so that it can be readily fitted to the lock and turned therein free of any interference with the guard.

In accordance with this invention, the guard means comprises a member having opposed leg portions and an interconnecting web portion wherein the free end of the respective leg portions straddle the lock of the coin box and the web portion thereof disposed in front of the lock in spaced relationship thereto. Accordingly, a key means adapted to operate the lock is provided with a handle extension which is particularly formed to complement the structure of the guard so that the key may be readily fitted into and out of the lock and turned therein to eifect the latching and unlatching of the lock. To attain this end, the guard and the key are provided with complementing means whereby the key can be readily inserted and turned in the lock with the guard means covering the face of the lock. If desired, the Web portion of the guard may be additionally reinforced by a hardened piece of steel to render drilling therethrough more difficu-lt. The arrangement is such that the guard straddling the face of the lock Will prohibit a would-be thief or vandal from positioning a drill bit directly against the face of the lock, and in this manner, deters drilling through the lock. Also, the arrangement is such that unauthorized personnel cannot pick the lock inasmuch that the guard prohibits axial alignment of a lock pick with the keyway of the look.

A feature of this invention resides in a relatively simply constructed guard device which can be readily attached to the front of a coin box to cover the face portion of the lock in a manner so as to deter the burglarizing of a lock by means of a drill or a lock pick.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a protective device comprising of a guard and key having complementing means which permits the key to be inserted into the keyway of the lock and actuated with the guard in position with respect to the lock.

Other features and advantages will become more read ily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and specifications in which,

FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of a coin box adapted to be used in a coin operated machine on which the protective device of the instant invention is illustrated.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a plan view of the protective guard of the instant invention.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a front end guard of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a detail side elevation view of tective guard of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view of the key con struction to complement the guard of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the key construction of FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is a right end view of the key of FIG. 5.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a fragmentary po1- tion of the key.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a coin box 10 of the type which is generally utilized in conjunction with the coin meter of a coin operated machine (not shown). Essentially the coin box 10 comprises a drawer which can be readily inserted into an opening in the wall of a coin operated machine which is not shown.

view of the protective the pro- Connected to the front wall of the drawer or box is a lock ill by which the coin box It may be latched and unlatched to the vending machine cabinet. Such lock 11 may comprise a tumbler lock of the type disclosed in a copending patent application, Ser. No. 469,601 filed July 6, 1965.

Operatively associated with the lock 11. is a latching member 12 which is adapted to engage and dis-engage with a suitable catch incorporated on frame or cabinet of a vending machine. Accordingly, by inserting a key into the keyway 13 of the lock and turning the same, the coin box 10 may be locked or unlocked, as the case may be.

In accordance with this invention, a protective guard or device 14 is provided in order to deter would-be vandals and thieves from drilling or otherwise defacing the face 11A of the lock 11 in an effort to gain authorized access to the coins stored in the box lltl. This is attained by securing or otherwise fixing a guard 14 to the face plate 15 or housing of the lock in a manner so that axial access to the face 11A of the lock 11 by a drill bit or lock pick is prohibited. As shown, the guard 14 comprises a U- shaped member having a pair of opposed leg portions 16, 17 and an interconnecting web portion 18. The free ends of the respective leg portions 16, 1'7 are provided with laterally offset flange portions 16A, 17A by which the guard 14 may be permanently secured to the lock plate 15 by any suitable means, as for example, by welding, screw fasteners and the like. Accordingly, the arrangement is such that the web portion 18 of the guard is disposed directly in front of the face 11A of the lock 11 and in spaced relationship thereto. If desired, the Web portion 18 may be reinforced with a special piece of hardened steel 19 to further deter would-be vandals or thieves from drilling therethrough in an effort to attain direct axial alignment of a drill with the face portion of the lock, and thereby effect a successive drilling therethrough.

To permit authorized access to the coin box without effecting removal of the guard device 14 which was installed to deter direct axial access, a specially constructed key 20 is provided. A key 20 of otherwise conventional construction is provided with a handle construction which is specifically arranged to complement the guard 14 so that the key may be readily inserted into the keyway 13 of the lock 11 and turned with the guard 14 means covering the face of the lock.

As best seen in the drawings, the web portion 18 of the guard 14 is provided with a cut out portion as indicated at 21. The key construction 20 utilized or adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a guard 14 described is provided with handle 22 that extends beyond the guard 14. As shown, the handle extension 22 is provided with an anchor end portion 22A which is adapted to be secured to the handle 23 of an existing key. If desired, the handle extension 22 may also be made integral as a part of the key 2%. Adjacent the anchor end portion 22A of the handle 22, the handle 22 is provided with a laterally offset portion 24 and a connected extension or finger grip portion 25 by which they key can be turned. Intermediate the finger grip portion 25 and the anchor portion 22A, the offset portion 24 of the key is provided with a cut out portion 26. Accordingly, the cut out portion 26 is disposed intermediate the length of the key handle 22. The proportioning and spacing of the cut out portion 26 of the key is such as to provide the key 20 with a limited amount of axial movement so that the barrel end 20A of the key can be moved toward and away from the lock 11 to effect the engagement and dis-engagement of the key therewith. Accordingly, it will be noted that the angular offset 24 of the handle extension 22 enables the key 20 to be rotated in the lock without interfering with the side or leg portion 17 of the guard device 14. The key handle 22 is thus specifically constructed and arranged so that the barrel portion 20A of the key 20 can be readily disposed into and out of the keyway 13 of the lock with the guard 14 in place, and that both'the web portion 18 of the guard 14 and the key handle or extension 22 are provided with complementary means or cut outs 21 and 26 so that the key 20 may be readily inserted into the lock and turned to actuate the same free of any interference with the guard device covering the face of the lock. While the handle extension is illustrated as comprising an extension formed of a fiat plate having an angular offset 24 and secured to the handle portion 23 of a conventional key, it will be readily understood that the handle extension 22 may be formed integral with the key. Accordingly, the arrangement is such that the operator or authorized personnel can attain ready access to the coins within the coin box 10 without the necessity of effecting the removal of the guard device 14 from the face plate 15. Also the guard device functions to deter would-be thieves and prohibit them from effectively drilling or otherwise defacing the face of the lock in an attempt to gain unauthorized access to the monies within the coin box.

While the instant invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be readily appreciated and understood that variations and modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a lock having a keyway, the

improvement of a guard means permanently secured to the lock to protect the keyway of the lock,

a key means adapted to be fitted to the keyway of said lock protected by said guard means, wherein said guard means comprises,

a U-shaped member having opposed leg portions and an interconnecting web portion,

each of said leg portions having their respective free ends fixedly secured to said lock, said web portion having a first portion disposed directly in front of a major portion of said keyway of said lock in spaced relationship thereto, and,

said web portion having a cut-out second portion adapted to accommodate said key means,

said key means including a handle,

said handle having a notched out portion disposed intermediate the length of said handle, and said notch in said handle complementing the cut-out portion of said web whereby the width of said notched out portion is Wider than the portion of the key adapted to be received in the keyway to permit axial movement of said =key means toward and away from said keyway an amount to effect insertion of said key means in and out of the keyway of said lock with the guard fixedly secured in front of the face of said lock.

2. In combination with a lock having a keyway, the

improvement of,

(a) a guard means for protecting the face of said lock,

(b) said guard means including opposed leg portions straddling the face of said lock, said leg portions being permanently fixed relative to the face of said lock,

(c) and an imperforate web portion interconnected between said leg portions,

(d) said web portion being positioned directly in front of the keyway of said lock in spaced relationship thereto,

(e) and a key means adapted to be received in the keyway of said lock,

(f) said key means and said guard means having complementary interfitting means whereby said key can be readily inserted and turned in said keyway with said guard means covering the keyway in the face of said lock.

3. In combination "with a lock having a keyway, the

improvement of,

(a) a guard means for protecting the face of said lock,

(b) said guard means including a U-shaped member having opposed leg portions straddling the face of said lock, said leg portions being permanently fixed relative to the face of said lock,

(c) and an imperforate web portion interconnected between said leg portions,

(d) said web portion being positioned directly in front of the keyway in the face of said lock in spaced relationship thereto,

(e) and a key means'adapted to be received in the keyway of said lock with said web portion extending in front of said keyway,

(f) said key means and said guard means having complementary interfitting means whereby said key can be inserted into said lock and turned to effect the operation of said lock with said guard means in place covering the face of said lock.

4. In combination with a lock having a keyway, the

improvement of,

a guard means for protecting the face of said lock, said guard means including a U-shaped member having opposed leg portions straddling the face of said look, said leg portions being permanently fixed relative to the face of said lock, and a web portion interconnected between said leg portions, said web portion having a first portion positioned directly in front of the keyway in the face of said lock in spaced relationship thereto, wherein said complementary means comprises,

said web portion being permanently positioned directly in front of a major portion of the keyway and said web portion having a cut-away second portion, and said key means having a handle formed with a complementary notched out portion disposed intermediate the length of said handle whereby said cut away portion of said web portion and notched out portion of said key handles are disposed at right angles with respect to one another when said key is positioned in said lock, said web portion being disposed within said notched out portion when said key is positioned in said lock and the width of said notched out portion being Wider than the portion of the key adapted to be received in the keyway to permit axial movement of said key means toward and away from said keyway an amount sufiicient to effect the insertion of said key means in and out of the keyway of said lock with said guard fixed to the face of said lock.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the notch portion of said key includes an off-set portion.

6. In combination with a lock having a keyway, the

improvement of,

(a) a guard for protecting the face of said lock,

(b) said guard including a member having opposed leg portions adapted to straddle the face of said lock, and a web portion interconnected between the ends of said leg portion, said web portion having a first part permanently positioned directly in front of a major portion of the keyway in the face of said lock in spaced relationship thereto,

(0) said web portion having a second part thereof cut away to permit the alignment of a key with the keyway of said lock,

(d) and a key means adapted to open said lock,

(e) said key means having a key end portion adapted to be received in the keyway of said lock and a connected handle for turning said key means when inserted into said lock,

(f) said handle including an extension extending beyond the web portion of said guard means when said key is disposed in said lock,

(g) said extension being angularly offset with respect to said handle of said key,

(h) and said extension having a notched out portion adapted to complement the cut out part of said web portion, said web portion being disposed within said notched out portion when said key is positioned in said lock, and the width of said notched out portion being wider than the portion of the key adapted to be received in the keyway to permit axial movement of said key means toward and away from said keyway an amount sufficient to effect the insertion of said key means in and out of the keyway of said lock to facilitate the insertion and turning of said key means in said lock with said guard fixed to the face of the lock.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 676,450 6/1901 Schwartz -454 X 1,004,75 8 10/1911 Ebbert 70-427 1,110,963 9/1914 Robinson 70-454 1,195,808 8/1916 Grgich 70-423 1,915,897 6/1933 Maxwell et a1 70-421 2,491,337 12/1949 Segal 70-419 2,877,637 3/1959 Greenwald 70-86 3,083,563 4/ 1963 Greenwald 70-417 3,267,706 8/1966 Kerr 70-419 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN COMBINATION WITH A LOCK HAVING A KEYWAY, THE IMPROVEMENT OF, (A) A GUARD MEANS FOR PROTECTING THE FACE OF SAID LOCK, (B) SAID GUARD MEANS INCLUDING OPPOSED LEG PORTIONS STRADDLING THE FACE OF SAID LOCK, SAID LEG PORTIONS BEING PERMANENTLY FIXED RELATIVE TO THE FACE OF SAID LOCK, (C) AND AN IMPERFORATE WEB PORTION INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID LEG PORTIONS, (D) SAID WEB PORTION BEING POSITIONED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE KEYWAY OF SAID LOCK IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THERETO, (E) AND A KEY MEANS ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN THE KEYWAY OF SAID LOCK, (F) SAID KEY MEANS ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN THE COMPLEMENTARY INTERFITTING MEANS WHEREBY SAID KEY CAN BE READILY INSERTED AND TURNED IN SAID KEYWAY WITH SAID GUARD MEANS COVERING THE KEYWAY IN THE FACE OF SAID LOCK. 